Air valve



AIR VALVE Original Filed Feb 21 1927 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 30, 1930 LEWIS VJ. EGGLESTON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN RADIATOR COMPANY, OE NEW YORK, N. L, A CORIPGRATION OF NEW JERSEY AIR, VALVE Application filed February 21, 1927, Serial No. 170,053. Renewed February 20, 1980.

My invention is for new and useful improvements in air valves for radiators, and relates more particularly to an air valve of the quick-vent type.

An object of my invention is to construct a valve of the quick-vent type which will be efficient in operation.

Another object is to provide a valve which is of simple construction and durable.

A further object is to provide a valve which will permit the emission of air from a radiator without permitting the passage of water or steam.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts, to be more fully described hereinafter, and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 have fully and clearly illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, and a modification thereof, to be taken as a part of this specification, and wherein Figure 1 is a vertical central section through an elevation of the pref-erred form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the base Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fi 2 and at right angles to the section of Fig. l, and I Fig. 1 is a detail showing a modification of my device.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, the reference numeral 1 designates a hollow valve body or casing comprising a base member 2 and a cap or cover mem her 3, both of which are preferably made of cast brass, but they may be made of castiron or stamped from sheet materiahif desired. I

The base member 2 is substantially cupshaped and has an inlet passage 9f extending axially through a neck or boss 4 which depends centrally from the bottom of member 2 and which is externally threaded, as at 5, for operative connection to the steam space of a radiator, or the like. The inner face 6 of the side wall 7 of member 2 is provided with vertical longitudinal flanges 8 which project radially inward toward the vertical center line of the base 2, and which serve as guide ribs for a purpose to be described. N ear its top the side wall 7 has an outwardly projecting circumferential flange 9, above which the wall 7 is externally threaded, as at 10. lVithin the base member 2 and fixed to the side wall 7 thereof, at diametrically opposite points, is an arch or supporting bar 11 which extends across the passage 3 and through which, at its midpoint, is threaded an adjustable supporting pin or abutment 12. A suitable locking means, such as a lock nut 13, may be used to fix the pin 12 in'desired position in the support 11.

Mounted upon the base member 2 is the cap or cover member 3, which is internally threaded, as at 14, for engagement with the threads 10. A suitable sealing medium such as litharge and oil is used to seal the oint between the cap member 3 and the base member 2. 7 At the top of the cover member 5 there is a vent or'outlet passage 15 in the axial line of pin 12, which is surrounded at its inner end by an annular flange 16 depending from member 3 and which serves as a valve guide.

Within the chamber formed by members 2 and 3 of-casing 1 is a float 17 having a cylindrical side wall 18 which is circumferentially corrugated for strength, the corrugations being substantially parallel to a plane perpendicular to the lon itudinal center line of the float, and which, together with an internal brace 19, renders the float 17 substantially rigid. The brace 19 is preferably of disc form, having an aperture 20 and a pe ripheral flange 21 which fits into the outward bend of one of the circumferential corrugations, and is held therein by rolling or pressing the metal of the corrugation into engagement with the edge of the brace 19. The ends of the float 17 hermetically sealed by flLXlblC diaphragms or heads 22, 23, preferably of tempered sheet bronze, though other resilient flexible material. n'iay be used. A suitable charge of volatile fluid is placed in the float 1'7, which when heated by steam will expand and pass freely through aperture 20 to force the heads 22, 23 outwardly. The float 17 is normally supported by the head or diaphragm 22 on the adjust able abutment 12, and is guided longitudinally of the casing 1 by the guide ribs 8. Fixed to the head 23 is a Valve stem 24; having flat sides The stem 24; projects into the valve guide 16, and due to the flat sides 25 permits the passage of air to the vent 15. The free end of the valve stem 24 has a valve head 26 which cooperates with a valve seat 27 at the inner end of vent 15, and is guided to its seat 27 by the annular flange 16.

The operation is as follows: The float 17 is adjusted within the casing 1 through here or passage I after assembly of the valve by the screw 12, so that the expansion of the volatile fluid will expand the heads 22, 23 and insure contact of the valve 26 with its seat 27. The valve is then attached in the usual manner by means of the threaded neck 4 to a radiator or the like (not shown). Any air in the radiator will be forced out through the passage 3 into the casing 1, where it will pass upwardly around arch 11, between the guide ribs 8 and around the float 17 to the vent 15, through which itwill escape. The air will be followed by steam, which it is desired to retain in the system. The heat of the steam will volatilize the liquid in the float 17 and the volatilized liquid acting through aperture 20 will expand the heads 22, 23, which will carry the valve 26 into engagement with its seat 27 to close vent l5. Pressureot' head against the fixed abutment 12 will keep valve 26 seated and maintain the vent 15 closed as long as steam surrounds the float 17. If, however, any water of condensation rises in the radiator above the level. corresponding to the level or" the head 22 of float 17, before the entrance oi steam to casing 1. it will raise the float, which is buoyant, and thereby seat the valve 26 on its seat 27 to close the vent 15 and prevent the emission of water if it should rise to the top of the easing 1.

The modification shown in Fig. 4 employed when it is desired to use my novel valve in a, vacuum system. The cover member 3 is provided with an upstanding annular flange 30 which surrounds the vent 15 and which terminates in a valve seat 31. Adjacent the valve seat 31 the flange 30 has a circun'rferential shoulder 32. Over-lying the flange 30 is a hollow v alve seat cap 32} which is crimpcd, or otherwise sealed, as at 3i, beneath the shoulder 32 and to the flange 30. Loosely held on the valve seat 31 by the cap 33 is a check valve 35. Suitable air outlets 36 are provided for the emission of air from the valve cap 33.

The modified valve will operate in the same manner as the preferred form above described, with the check valve 35 lifting from its seat 31 to permit the passage of air through outlets 36 and then dropping back upon seat 31 to close vent 15 to maintain a vacuum in the system.

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent oi the United States is:

1. In a device of the character described, substantially cup-shaped base member having an inlet port through the bottom thereof, a cap member overlying said base member and sealed thereto, a float within said cap member and base member, said base member having internal guide ribs for said float, said base member having an adjustable support for said float adapted for adjustment through said inlet port, a valve carried by said float, and a vent in said cap member in axial alignment with said inlet port and adapted to be closed by said valve.

2. In a device of the character described, a substantially cup-shaped base member ha iing an inlet port, a cap member overlying said base member and. sealed thereto to form a chamber, a thermostatic float in said chamber having a rigid side wall and having flexible heads, said float containing a volatile fluid and having an internal apertured wall brace whereby the volatile may pass freely from and to opposite sides of said brace, said base member having guide ribs for said float, a valve carried by one of said heads, said cap member having guide means for said valve and a vent therethrough concentric with said guide means adapted to be closed by said 1 valve.

8. In. a device of the character described, a substantially cup-shaped base member having an inlet port, acap member overlying said base member and sealed thereto, a float within said cap member and base member having a rigid side wall and having flexible heads, said base member having guide ribs and an adjustable supporting means for said float. a valve carried by one oil said heads, said cap member having guide means for said Vt lve and a vent adapted to be closed by said valve.

4. In a device of the character described, a substantially cup-shaped base member having an inlet port, a cap member overlying said base memliier and sealed thereto to term a chamber. a thermostatic float in said chamher having a rigid side wall and having flexible hca ds, said float containing a volatile fluid adapted to expand on application of heat to expand said heads outwardly and having an internal wall brace, said brace having an aperture therethrough for the passage of volatile from and to opposite sides thereof, said base member having guide ribs and an a djustable supporting means for said float, a valve carried by one of said heads, said cap member having guide means for said valve and having a vent adapted to be closed by said valve.

5. In a device of the character described, a substantially cup-shaped base member having an inlet port through the bottom thereof, said base member having a transverse supporting bar extending across said inlet port,

adjustable means carried by said bar in the axial line of said port whereby said port permits free access to said adjustable means, said base member having radial inwardly projecting, verticallyextending guide ribs, a cylindrical hollow float vertically reciprocable within said guide ribs and supported on said adjustable means, said float having expansible-contractible heads and containing a volatile fluid, a valve mounted on one of said heads, a cap member sealed to said base member and enclosing said float, said cap memher having a vent adjacent said valve adapted to be closed by said valve, and guide means for said valve.

6. In a device of the character described, a substantially cup-shaped base member having an inlet port, said base member having a transverse, internal supporting bar, adjustable means carried by said bar, said base member having radial inwardly projecting guide ribs, a cylindrical hollow float having rigid side walls, said float being longitudi-L nally reciprocable within said guide ribs and being supported on said adjustable means, said float having expansible-contractible heads and containing a volatile, and having an internal perforate disc-shape wall brace whereby said volatile may pass freely to and from opposite sides of said brace, a valve mounted on one of said heads, a cap member sealed to said base member and enclosing said float, said cap member having a vent adjacent said valve and adapted to be closed thereby, and an annular flange depending from said cap member and having an internal bore concentric with said vent and surrounding said valve, whereby said valve is guided to and from said vent.

7. A float having a substantially cylindrical side wall with circumferential strengthening corrugations substantially parallel to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal cen ter line of the float, a head sealing each end of said cylindrical side wall to form a. hen metically sealed casing, said heads being axially flexible to expand outwardly under internal pressure, and an expansible-contractible medium in said casing.

8. A float having a substantially cylindrical side wall with circumferential strengthening corrugations substantially parallel to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal centcr line of the float, a head sealing each end of said cylindrical side wall to form a hermetically sealed casing, said heads being axially flexible to expand outwardly under internal pressure, and a radially rigid brace within said float having an aperture therethrough for fluid flow from and to opposite sides of said brace, said brace abutting the cylindrical side wall at diametrically opposite points to prevent inward collapse of said side wall.

9. A float having a substantially cylindrical side wall with circumferential strengthening corrugations substantially parallel to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of the float, a head sealing each end of said cylindrical side wall to form a hermetically sealed casing, said heads being axially flexible to expand outwardly under internal pressure, and a radially rigid disc within said float havin an aperture therethrougl said disc being 'xed against substantial axial longitudinal movement in said float by engagement of the peripheral edge of said disc in an outward bend of one of the circumferential corrugations of said side wall.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

LEWIS EGGLESTON. 

